1 ¶ So I returned and considered all the violence that is done under the sun and behold the tears of such as are oppressed, and they have no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors there was power; but the oppressed had no comforter.

2 T herefore I praised the dead who are already dead more than the living who are yet alive.

3 A nd I thought that better is he than both of them who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil works that are done under the sun.

4 ¶ Again, I considered all travail and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.

5 T he fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.

6 B etter is a handful with rest than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.

7 ¶ Then I returned, and I saw another vanity under the sun.

8 I t is the man who is alone, without a successor, who has neither son nor brother; yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity and sore travail.

9 T wo are better than one because they have a better reward for their labour.

10 F or if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falls, for he has not another to help him up.

11 A gain, if two sleep together, then they have heat, but how can one be warm alone?

12 A nd if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

13 ¶ Better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no longer be admonished.

14 F or he came out of prison to reign, even though he was born poor into his kingdom.

15 I saw all the living who are under the sun walking with the child, the successor that shall stand up in his stead.

16 T here is no end of all the people that have been before them; those also that come after shall not be content in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.